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Dr. Chotkowski will serve as Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and work on a translational level with other departments on stem cell research in dentistry.

New York, NY

– July 29, 2010 /Press Release/ ––

Gregory Chotkowski, DMD, a leader in maxillofacial surgery and stem cell research in dentistry, has joined Mount Sinai School of Medicine as Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Chotkowski will also serve as Program Director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program. His appointment became effective June 21.

"Dr. Chotkowski brings a wealth of experience in basic science, which will help further Mount Sinai’s commitment to translational medicine," said John L. Pfail, DDS, Chair of the Department of Dentistry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "I am confident that under his leadership we will continue to train some of the best oral surgeons in the country. We are very pleased to have someone of Dr. Chotkowski’s caliber lead our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery division."

Dr. Chotkowski is a leader in the study of stem cells in dentistry. Researchers have determined that stem cells, similar to those found in bone marrow, are also found in baby and wisdom teeth. Dr. Chotkowski plans to work with Mount Sinai’s various research institutes, including the Black Family Stem Cell Institute, to conduct further investigations. The findings may provide benefits for craniomaxillofacial regenerative therapies and a range of illnesses including neurological and cardiac diseases.

"I was drawn to Mount Sinai because the institution is acting on its commitment to translational research," said Dr. Chotkowski. "I am dedicated to bringing therapeutic breakthroughs from bench to bedside, and look forward to working toward that end, and training our residents to do so as well."

To further support stem cell research in dentistry, Dr. Chotkowski founded and serves on the Board of Directors of StemSave, Inc, a collaborative effort between stem cell researchers and the dental health community. The organization provides families with the opportunity to collect and preserve the stem cells contained within their teeth, tests them for viability, and freezes them for future use.

As a renowned maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Chotkowski has authored articles on maxillofacial trauma and reconstruction, and lectured internationally on the topic. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists.

After graduating from Boston College, Dr. Chotkowski received a degree as doctor of dental medicine from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He continued his training as a resident in medical dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center. He worked in private practice for several years before joining Mount Sinai.

About The Mount Sinai Medical Center

The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Established in 1968, Mount Sinai School of Medicine is one of few medical schools embedded in a hospital in the United States. It has more than 3,400 faculty in 32 departments and 15 institutes, and ranks among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institute of Health funding and by U.S. News & World Report. The school received the 2009 Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is a 1,171-bed tertiary- and quaternary-care teaching facility and one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. In 2009, U.S. News & World Report ranked The Mount Sinai Hospital among the nation’s top 20 hospitals based on reputation, patient safety, and other patient-care factors. Nearly 60,000 people were treated at Mount Sinai as inpatients last year, and approximately 530,000 outpatient visits took place.